44th session of the Human Rights Council
Item 3
Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Intervention by the Representative of Ukraine
(Geneva, July 10, 2020)
Madame President,
Ukraine thanks Special Rapporteur for his report addressing the challenges and concerns that the states had faced amid imposing restrictive measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on ensuring the fundamental human rights, including right to freedom of opinion and expression.
The Russian occupation authorities in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city Sevastopol significantly restricted freedom of expression, the press, and the internet, in particular, by means of committing violence against journalists and website blocking, and subjecting dissenting voices, including the press, to harassment and prosecution.
So is the situation in the Russian occupied areas of Donbas where people are compelled to abstain from expression of views for fear of persecution, as individuals are detained for their publications including information shared on social media.
The lack of fair information on the real public health situation in Crimea and Donbas testifies the failure of the occupying power to ensure full protection of the civilian population against the coronavirus contamination and to counteract properly COVID-19 spread over the occupied territories. We support the conclusions of the Special Rapporteur’s report, including on enabling the access to relevant information, confronting and correcting disinformation and ensuring accountability for using public crises for unlawful purposes.
Thank you.